South Bend Police surround Courtyard Place home

July 21, 2008|SBT24/7 News Report

SOUTH BEND — Police surrounded an address in the 400 block of 26th Street in South Bend early Monday after people they wanted to question, believed to be inside the home, refused to come out. South Bend 911 dispatchers said officers went to the home in the Courtyard Place apartments complex shortly after 1 a.m., after receiving a call about suspects in the area with guns. By 1:40 a.m., police were placing phone calls to the home, near East Jefferson Boulevard east of the South Ironwood Drive intersection, to have the suspects surrender and come out with their hands up. Authorities didn't receive a response and prepared to enter the unit. Shortly after 2 a.m., neighbors began leaving adjoining apartments and police continued trying to contact the subjects. As a crowd began to gather near the scene, street crews were sent to block traffic in the area as police tactical units began to gather equipment and don their gear. About 30 minutes later, two people left the home and were taken into custody, a WSBT-TV reporter at the scene said. A third person was then removed as well. There was no immediate word on what led to the standoff or why the three people inside did not initially surrender to police. For further updates on this developing story, check back with SBT24/7 News at www.southbendtribune.com or with our newsgathering partners at WSBT-TV and WSBT Radio News.